Chapter 162: Buying a Sewing Machine

Translator: Nyoi-Bo Studio Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio

“I’ll leave the making of steamed cakes to you from now on. Since you’ve learned the basics, the rest should be easy. Do your best,” Su Wen said.

Su Xiu happily accepted her task under the envious gazes of Su Qing and Little Sister Su. She got to her feet and bowed shyly to her assembled crowd as if she were the village chief thanking everyone for attending a meeting he had organized.

“Thank you, Big Sister, for giving me a chance. I, Su Xiu, promise to complete your assigned task and increase the family’s income.”

Su Xiu was so excited that tears welled up in her eyes. While she had spoken to reassure her sisters that she would do her best, it was also her first time committing herself so seriously to a task.

Su Xiu had always wanted to change her family’s poverty-stricken fate and alleviate some of their hardships. She wanted to free her eldest sister from the vicious tongues that slandered her behind her back, earn more money to put her younger sisters through school, and prepare a suitable dowry for her Second Sister when she eventually married.

All the other girls of similar ages in the village were married or engaged. Second Sister was the only one left, and no matchmaker had taken it upon themselves to help her. Their family was always despised for not having a man in the household or being too poor to afford a proper dowry.

Su Xiu was not blind; she had seen it all. Although Second Sister never spoke about it, Su Xiu knew it weighed heavily on her mind.

Su Xiu had always done the hard work in their family, but she did not hate her sisters for having had to take up this mantle. She accepted her role as a necessity. She plowed the fields, planted the seeds, weeded the weeds, and harvested the wheat. She worked without complaint, toiling for hours to supplement their family’s income.

Su Xiu knew she was not as strong as a man and would never work as fast as the others, but she soldiered on to improve their situation and give her sisters a chance at a better life.

However, as the years passed, Su Xiu realized there was no hope for a better life in farming. Now that she had learned from her eldest sister, Su Xiu’s hopes for her family were rekindled.

“Yay!” Little Sister Su applauded enthusiastically.

Su Wen smiled and joined her youngest sister in cheering on Su Xiu. “Not bad! I was moved by your speech Su Xiu. I hope you will not fear hardship and strive to complete your mission without fail.”

“I will! ”

Su Qing watched the exchange with no small amount of jealousy.

Su Wen noticed. How could she not? “Su Qing, you can’t give up on your apprenticeship and toss aside all the skills you’ve learned as tailor-to-be. You’ll be helping me make bags from now on.”

“Making bags?” Su Qing was confused. “Do you mean schoolbags? Those aren’t hard at all. I can make them before I go to bed at night.’

Schoolbags were sewn together using canvas. The most popular ones were sling overs. They did not take much skill to assemble and were quite easy to make. Su Qing had sewn together Fourth and Fifth Sister’s schoolbags. She ha plenty of practice making them since her sisters went through several of thenevery year, carrying their heavy school books around campus.

“No, not that kind of bag.” Su Wen shook her head, a sly smile blooming on he face. “I’m talking about a luxury bag – something beautiful, exquisite, practical, and fashionable.”

Su Qing did not understand what her elder sister was referring to. Having use( so many fancy words to describe the bag, how beautiful was it supposed to look?

“I’ll use the furs, nuts, and bolts I bought to make it.”

Su Qing’s eyes lit upon hearing Su Wen mention the furs, nuts, and bolts. She had been an apprentice for quite some time and knew her sister had bought some quality goods.

It only took a glance for Su Qing to know that the cowhide and lambskin her sister had obtained were high-quality materials. They were warm and delicate durable but light.

If she used these materials to make schoolbags, it would be too much of a waste, and she would not dare allow her Fourth and Fifth Sisters to carry around something so eye-catching.

“I think I know what you plan to make, but will anyone buy it? These materials aren’t cheap. Who would waste money on something like that?” Su Qing knew she would not buy something like the bag her sister was planning to make. Anyone with good sense would spend money on proper food like fish and meat if they had the money to spare.

Su Wen was confident her bags would sell. People who loved pretty bags would be willing to scrimp and save to get their hands on one of her bags.

“As long as they’re well-made, people will not hesitate to buy them, especially if they are pretty and exquisitely designed.” Su Wen had no intention of selling her luxury bags in their small village or the town some distance away. Her intended market was the city folk in the provincial capital. Cao Meihua, whom she met last time, was her first intended customer.

“Good! Then it’s settled. We’ll head into town tomorrow and buy a sewing machine.” Originally, Su Wen had been reluctant to buy a sewing machine. The special ticket Hengyang had given her was supposed to solve their travel problem. It would have allowed her to exchange it for a bicycle.

Now that she had one, the sewing machine was of greater importance.

Su Qing bit her lips. She wanted to say something but stopped herself. She had seen how smart and determined her eldest sister was; there was no reason to doubt her now.

Of all the sisters, Su Xiu was the happiest. With a sewing machine, Seco Sister would not have to worry about marriage. She would do her best t persuade her eldest sister to give Second Sister the sewing machine as 1 her dowry..

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